THU OPERA COMPANY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 9760, 24 June 1892, Page 3

THU OPERA COMPANY.

MABTHA. There is a long distance between th*. grand tragic music of Lucrezia Borgia and the light florid composition of Flotow’si Martha , and it might readily be expected! that a company that conld do justice to! the former would scarcely feel at home in] the latter. The Montague-Turner Com-j pany, however, last night showed thau they were as capable of producing the one] as the other. Perhaps the term Montague*-, Turner is unsuitable to last night’s opera,; as Mies Annis Montague did not appear.. The title role was taken by Miss Maud! Litta, who on this occasion made herd4stvij before a Christchurch audience. The] young lady has a sweet voice, not very powerful, but extremely flexible and welt cultivated, and she sings with much expression. The numerous trills and cadences] which belong to the part she executed] with faultless precision, and her singing of! "The Last Rose of Summer** was a model! of grace and simplicity. She achieved a 1 pronounced success, not merely for her! vocalisation, but also for her very nnartificial acting, which admirably suited her; youthful appearance. Miss E. A. Lamberts made a decided hit in the role of Nancy, singing with archness and appropriate!! spirit, and playing with a coquettish manner! which was irresistible in enlisting the! good graces of the audience. Mr. Fred England, who played Sic Tristan,, made u» much too young, but otherwise acquitted l himself satisfactorily. Mr Edward Farley,* who was Blanket, left nothing to be desired in his impersonation, Hia fine voice waa highly effective throughout, and especially, good waa his song in praise of the national beverage, “Beer.” Mr Charles Turner •was Lionel, and sang, as he always does,' with sweetness, vigour and expression.] The concerted numbers in the opeia were obarmiagly rendered, the voices hannonis* ing faulsiessly, and the choruses were very, well taken. The orchestra, under Me Harcourfc Lee, fully sustained its reputa-; taon. To-night Lucrezia Borgia will ba repeated, and to-morrow Maritana will b« performed for the first time daring this season.